Collingwood equine artist Tina Bradshaw has had a long love affair with animals. Growing up in rural southwestern Ontario, Tina had a blond palomino horse named Duchess. Being able to combine her love of animals with her painting has brought her great pleasure.

Tina’s natural artistic abilities were enhanced and honed while she was attending Sheridan College in Oakville, taking the illustration and design course. Her newly developed skills allowed her to work as a freelance illustrator for various advertising agencies. This gave Tina the opportunity to do work for the World Wildlife Fund. Her work can still be seen in some of there brochures and newsletters. She was also able to work closely with the clothing design company Nygard International.

Her detailed illustration work garnered her an excellent reputation that lead her to commission commercial work. Including paintings and murals for Indian Motor Cycle Company restaurants. She has also exhibited Indy inspired Car art at the Toronto Molson Indy. However, Tina keeps insisting that it is her love of animals that is her true inspiration and what she loves to paint.

Tina made Collingwood her permanent residence two years ago. The area has so much to offer, from the general natural beauty , to the wonderful lifestyle of the area. Admittedly the last two years have been exciting.

As one of the feature artists of Equine Art Guild, Tina has been refereed to as a Canadian realism painter, which her background in technical illustration and design has enhanced. Although Tina is trained in many mediums, she prefers acrylic on canvas, due to the vibrancy of colour and flexibility of the medium. With her work in collection in Canada, the United States and Internationally, Collingwood is truly lucky to have such a talented artist living in our area.

She is best known for portrait work with horses, where the background is almost a sold colour forcing the viewer to solely focus on the image being presented. Having seen some of her commissions, including horse and dogs, they are incredible likeness, without having that photographic feeling. Tina is currently working on several commissions, but is always available to discuss future possibilities.

In the Collingwood area her originals are available at Joanna’s on Mountain Road and at The Design Gallery on Hurontario Street in Collingwood, 705- 446-9769. Or to view some of her work www.equineartguild.com.